Renal cortical accumulation of hyaluronan in adult rats exposed neonatally to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition.

Neonatal inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system [angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition] in the rat results in long-term abnormal renal morphology and function, including interstitial inflammation and fibrosis. Hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid, HA) has pathological implications in inflammatory diseases and renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury. The present study aimed at determining if renal cortical HA in the adult rat is correlated to the abnormal morphology and function in rats treated neonatally with the ACE inhibitor enalapril. In adult control rats (23 weeks old), the cortical HA content was very low [about 5 microg g(-1) dry weight (d.w.)] and about 1% of the papillary HA content. In rats treated neonatally with enalapril (days 3-13), the cortical HA level was 15 times that in control rats already at 21 days after birth, and it persisted at this level during adulthood (at 23 weeks). At 13 weeks the enalapril-treated animals showed markedly reduced ability (-53%) to concentrate urine during 24-h thirst provocation. At 21 days as well as at 23 weeks the enalapril-treated kidneys displayed morphological changes, such as papillary atrophy, dilation of the tubules and cellular infiltration of the cortical tissue. Histochemical staining confirmed the HA quantification assay and revealed a patchy staining for HA located in the same regions as the infiltrating cells. In conclusion, neonatal treatment with the ACE inhibitor enalapril results in renal morphological and functional abnormalities during adulthood. Cortical HA levels are already seriously elevated at day 21 and coexist with infiltrating cells. Besides the known effects of angiotensin II in development, the accumulation of HA in these kidneys may be involved in the genesis of at least the cortical abnormalities in enalapril-treated animals because of the proinflammatory effects and water-binding properties of HA.

Acute renal responses to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition in the neonatal pig.

Pharmacological interruption or genetic disruption of the renin-angiotensin system before completion of nephrogenesis produces papillary atrophy and an impaired urinary concentrating ability. The mechanisms involved are yet to be elucidated, but renal hypoperfusion and subsequent ischemia, particularly to the immature renal medulla, may be hypothesized. The acute intrarenal responses to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition in the newborn piglet were thus investigated by means of regional blood flow distribution, renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP), and medullary oxygen tension (PO2) in the anesthetised 4- to 5-day-old piglet. Moreover, the calcium antagonist nifedipine and the nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor L-NAME were also given in order to reduce renal blood flow by other means. The drugs were given intravenously in equipotent pressor doses, mimicking intraperitoneal injections in neonatal rats. Enalaprilat (200 microg/kg) reduced mean arterial pressure (MAP) by 14+/-10% (mean+/-SD, P=0.006) and RIHP by 18+/-18% (P=0.001), whereas total renal blood flow and medullary PO2 remained unchanged. In contrast, nifedipine (0.5 mg/kg) reduced MAP and RIHP by 39+/-8% and 38+/-14%, respectively, total and regional blood flows by 30%-60%, and medullary PO, by 46+/-29% (P=0.001). Acute administration of L-NAME (15 mg/kg) increased MAP by 27+/-10% (P=0.0005), whereas RIHP and renal blood flow decreased by 20%-50%, resulting in a reduction of the medullary PO2 by 10+/-12% (P=0.05). We conclude that the renal abnormalities observed after neonatal ACE inhibition are not likely to be caused by renal ischemia.

IGF-I treatment attenuates renal abnormalities induced by neonatal ACE inhibition.

An intact renin-angiotensin system (RAS) during nephrogenesis is essential for normal renal development. We have shown previously that neonatal inhibition of the RAS, either with ANG II type 1-receptor blockade or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, induces irreversible renal abnormalities. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether an interrupted RAS can be compensated for by exogenous administration of another important renal growth-promoting factor, the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Rats were treated daily with either the ACE inhibitor enalapril (10 mg/kg), recombinant human IGF-I (3 mg/kg), or the combination enalapril + IGF-I from perinatal day 3 to 13. Urinary concentrating ability, renal function, and renal morphology were assessed at adult age. The gene expression and localization of IGF-I, its receptor, and the growth hormone receptor (GHR) were investigated during ongoing ACE inhibition. The present study demonstrates normalized renal function and histology in enalapril + IGF-I-treated animals. Ongoing ACE inhibition suppressed the medullary IGF-I mRNA expression and altered the local distribution of both IGF-I and GHR. Thus the present study provides evidence for an interaction between the RAS and GH/IGF-I axis in renal development.

Renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure and urinary sodium excretion in rats with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced papillary atrophy.

The importance of angiotensin type-1 (AT1) receptor stimulation during renal development has recently been established in both pharmacological and knockout models. We have previously reported irreversible and progressive papillary atrophy and a reduced baseline renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP) after neonatal angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. The aim of the present study was to investigate the consequences of these abnormalities on urinary sodium excretion during acute extracellular sodium loading. Rats were treated neonatally with enalapril (10 mg kg-1 day-1) or saline control from days 3 to 23 after birth. Urinary sodium excretion was assessed in relation to mean arterial pressure (MAP) and RIHP responses in adult anaesthetised rats during moderate (1.5 and 3 % body weight) and severe (9 % body weight) saline-induced volume expansion. Control rats responded to the moderate volume expansion by increasing MAP by 16 +/- 6 % and RIHP by 40 +/- 23 %, respectively. In neonatally enalapril-treated rats, however, MAP and RIHP remained unchanged and were associated with a smaller increase in sodium excretion (44 +/- 11 % of the total amount infused versus 71 +/- 16 % for controls, P < 0.05). In contrast, severe volume expansion resulted in marked pressure rises in both the enalapril-treated group (36 +/- 12 and 112 +/- 48 % of baseline for MAP and RIHP, respectively) and the control group (34 +/- 21 and 130 +/- 34 % of baseline for MAP and RIHP, respectively). Moreover, the increases in MAP and RIHP were associated with complete excretion of the severe sodium challenge within 60 min in both treatment groups. We conclude that a RIHP response appears to be a prerequisite for adequate urinary sodium excretion in this model of papillary atrophy. Hence, an intact renal medulla is not mandatory in the renal handling of sodium during extracellular loading.

Long-term reduction of renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure after neonatal renin-angiotensin system inhibition in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal inhibition of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) causes a decreased urinary concentrating ability, papillary atrophy, and tubulointerstitial inflammation long term. As a consequence of these morphological changes, we surmised that renal blood flow and renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP) may be altered during and shortly after cessation of neonatal angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, and that tentative changes of these variables would persist long after treatment withdrawal. METHODS: Rats were given daily intraperitoneal injections of the ACE inhibitor, enalapril (10 mg/kg) or saline from days 3 to 23 postpartum, and the relationship between renal perfusion pressure (PP) and RIHP was investigated in 6- and 13-week-old anaesthetized rats. RESULTS: Neonatal ACE inhibition did not affect baseline RIHP short term, whereas RIHP was reduced at 13 weeks of age versus controls (11.6+/-1.6 vs 18.5+/-1.0 mmHg, P<0.05). Changes in RIHP correlated positively to changes in renal PP, independent of treatment and age (slope averaged 0.11+/-0.03). Ongoing ACE inhibition until 6 weeks of age neither affected baseline RIHP nor altered the reactivity to changes in perfusion pressure. Mild renal histopathological abnormalities were present already 3 weeks after cessation of treatment and were aggravated significantly in the 13-week-old rats, showing a complete loss of the papillary parenchyma. CONCLUSION: The reduced baseline RIHP in adult rats seemed to constitute a functional correlate to the major papillary atrophy. However, RIHP responses to changes in renal perfusion pressure was maintained, possibly indicating a compensatory effect of the remaining vasa recta and/or peritubular capillary network. Taken together, lack of neonatal angiotensin II type-1 (AT1) receptor stimulation induces not only irreversible abnormalities of the renal architecture, but causes alteration of intrarenal haemodynamics, such as a reduced RIHP, which may have implications for the regulation of pressure-natriuresis.